A Whale starts skimming

Nobu Su's giant skimmer - the A Whale- started being put through its paces this morning.

AIS data showed the converted 319,869 dwt ore/oil carrier to be under way in the region of the Deepwater Horizon well site.

At a media briefing yesterday Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft USCG said that after moving out yesterday the A Whale would first take on ballast so that the intake ports on its sides would be at the same level as the water and oil.

Owned by Nobu Su's TMT Group, the A Whale has 12 vents in each side that take in massive amounts of oily water that is then separated aboard ship, with the oil being retained on board and the cleaned water being returned to sea.

Admiral Zukunft said that the ship has been assigned a five-by-five-mile square area just to the north of the well site, which it will be working today (Saturday).

"We have Coast Guard research and development and strike team personnel on there to assess the effectiveness of the A Whale and the skimming, as well," said Admiral Zukunft.